sirinrob

well if you enjoy strong characterization and a mix of concepts/ plot then you won't be disappointed

I come from a family of decided non-readers. Though I wasn't discouraged to read, it was always the hints that I might prefer to play with others rather than having my nose stuck in a book that made me cross. I persisted and was left to my own devices. So the notion it is background, education etc is in my view fallacious. Some are intellectually driven others socially driven.

finished 'Palace Walk' by Naguib Mahfouz last night and 'A Clockwork Orange' by Anthony Burgess this afternoon. Both very good, albeit for different reasons

This a 'Bildungsroman', albeit a very unusual one. Set in a dystopian society, which is an almalgam of 1960's Britain and an Warsaw Pact country ( East Germany springs to mind). The main character Alex is the leader of a gang that indulges in violence against anyone they like. The gang stands apart from society, seeing it as against them. After several violent escapades, Alex is arrested; his erstwhile gang members leaving him in the lurch. The treatment by the police is as brutal as that handed out by the gang. Convicted Alex ends up as '6655321' in the prison system. Alex curries favour with the chaplain, which affords him some privilege. A new rehabilitation treatment is to be brought in and circumstances conspire that Alex is it's first guinea pig. whilst it means escaping the brutal conditions in the gaol, the treatment itself is dehumanising. On his release, he is shunned by his family, mistreated by the police and used as a pawn by opposing political groups. Eventually he does end up with a well paid job and goes back to his former ways. Then he gets bored with that lifestyle and in a sense matures. I found this a disturbing book. The violence is nasty, even though it is clinically described. The way the authorities deal with Alex is sinister. The sole aim of the treatment seems to be to turn him into a obedient clockwork toy, not a man. The point that Burgess makes is that leading a good life should be a conscious choice of the individual, not something driven by deliberate state manipulation. Alex poses an interesting question early on; the authorities look for the cause of badness, what about the cause of goodness? The use of language is inventive and often amusing, wordplay abounds. Alex speaks 'nadsat ( Russian for teen), a patois based on rhyming slang/ transliterated Russian and invented words. The way Burgess takes Russian words and works them into the text is impressive. Some are used as they are, others are playfully adapted to fit English. The effect of this patois is confusing and disorientating, deliberately so as it conveys the confusion of adolescence very well. The last chapter was cut from the film and the American edition of the book. The American publisher, as did Kubrick, felt that it was bland and not strong enough. Burgess was aggrieved by this arguing it upset the novel's structure, since it is in three parts, each part having seven chapters. Also the intention to show that the way society deals with adolescents, sets up a never ending cycle of conflict is lost. I feel the last chapter makes an important point. This is a thought provoking, challenging read with very inventive use of language.

Set against the backdrop of Egypt under the British Protectorate and the political tensions that causes, this follows the fortunes of the Al Jawad family. The head of the family, Ahmad, is an ultraconservative Muslim, who rules his family with an iron will. Outside of the family he is civility itself. As the novel progresses it becomes clear how much this is a facade, behind which he hides his doubts and anxieties. For all his professed piety, his knowledge of Islam is shallow. One thinh he detests is thinking deeply. He spends his evenings with like minded friends, drinking and womanising. There are a couple of occasions when someone stands up to him, and defeats him. which he takes as a slight on his honour. His wife, Amina, is submissive, but also fixed in her ideas, many based on her knowledge of Islam together with superstitions. As she is confined to the house, her knowledge of the world is limited and she has many naive views on what happens outside the home. she is Ahmad's second wife, his first wife having been divorced. They have 2 daughters and 3 sons, one of the sons Yasin being a stepson to Amina. Yasin takes after his father; he likes his drink and chasing women. his temprement is similar to his father's but he lacks the cunning ways employed by his father to cover his tracks. He is married to a woman of turkish descent at one point. This is a disaster, which leads to complications. The middle son Fahmney is the serious studious family member, who unlike the rest of the family has enlightened religious views and is sincerely pious. He gets caught up in the nationalistic fervor that takes Egypt over, this causing a confrontation with his father. The youngest son Kamal, is a cheeky ten year old, with rather idealistic views heavily influenced by his mother. The two sisters are like their mother confined to the home. They act almost as servants to the mother. Aisha is pretty, but shallow. Khadija is unattractive and sharp tongued. Both get married off and leave the home, living as it happens in the same house since their respective husbands are brothers. The novel opens with a straight forward thumbnail of each family member, the rest of the novel develops each character, each situation revealing more aspects of them. This is skilfully and deftly handled. The overall style is evocative, and written in an economic style which flows well. The ending is poignant and was unexpected. I was impressed with this novel and I'm now going to read the rest of the 'Cairo Trilogy' which this is the first part of.

well done Giuilia, something to be cherished, hope it continues.

Yes cookie is right, as I know from experience that their are people with rigid world outlooks who do everything in their power to maintain the status quo, regardless of the pain and suffering they inflict on others.

By unbalanced I mean that the slightest change that occur within that world view is seen as a threat to that world view as the world view is rigid but with shaky foundations. The reaction tends to be to make the world view more rigid, rather than strengthening the foundations which would allow the world view to adopt changes more readily, without the fear of it collapsing. Rasheed cannot tolerate any changes that he sees as a threat to his world view. The only way he seems to be able to cope with living is to live within a very rigid framework.

'America and Britain are two countries separated by a common language' attributed variously to GBS., Oscar Wilde and Winston Churchill, none of whom will own to it.

i know from reading 'Palace walk' that there are degrees of adherence in Islam. the taliban view is very extreme, but even under less harsh regimes you still get men like Rasheed. Maybe it is more to do with unbalanced world views, just a thought.

Totally irresponible behaviour by so called 'responsible adults' who are entrusted with the welfare and education of minors. The head's response was an insult as well, trying politely, but condescendingly to back down.

Have now reached the central section of 'Palace Walk', which deals with a family crisis. Lots of character interaction and development, really well done. Get my fix later.

Yes there is evidence that the sweetners in diet drinks trick the body into thinking its not sated, so you end up consuming more.

My feelings about Nabokov tend to be polarised. The books up to and including 'The real Life of Sebastian Knight' I really enjoy. Anything after that, with possible exception of Pnin, I just don't like

The subjugation of women, especially in the way depicted in this novel, is always going to be difficult to comprehend. I dealt with it by focusing on the way the women reeacted and coped with it. That does not take away the unpleasantness, but helps take a broader look at the issues. In an odd way, rasheed was oppressed. he changed his political views so he could survive in a volatile political climate.

tried this myself a month ago - total twaddle about what i expect from a pretentious writer like toews.

I seem to be an odd one here. My TBR is a mole hill. Stands at the moment at 6 books, hmmm i'm doing something wrong...

i've not said that much in this thread as it seems I take over, but as no one else seems to want to respond I'll add my views. one point the author makes is that outside of Kabul, the attitude shown by Rasheed is the norm. woman are chattels, their only function being to bear a son and obey. This a wrong view, but not restricted to afghanistan. the loss of tariq's lower right leg is a pointer to the problem of landmines, which affects many parts of the world, Angola springs to mind amongst others. The issue re Mariam and Laila is the main thrust, but sight should not be lost of the issue highlighted by tariq. Mariam's real father is a weak man ruled it would appear by strong females. that seems unusual, but then Herat is different. for me one of the most beautiful scenes was the visit to the Buddha, sadly now destroyed in the name of religious purity.

floccinaucinihilipilification ; the act of estimating as worthless. try saying that after anight out or a bad nights sleep. Rawr take note

I learnt today that tawny owls take a perverse delight in screeching at each other just before you fall asleep.

Yes WoLP is a bit like that, but it comes together at the end Some of the seemingly random events are taken up in Something Rotten btw. as for me read more of 'Palace walk' - it is getting more complex now and even more engrossing

That looks like my type of blog thank you for the heads up. I'm currently a quarter of the way through 'The Palace Walk' by Naguib Mahfouz. I'm enjoying it immensely.

Tagine using lamb, mushrooms, green pepper , spices and couscous